Bonding Moments

I had a bonding moment today with a girl that I always see but have literally never talked to.

It happened like this: two boys raced down the hallway of our dorm and nearly knocked her over as we were both exiting the bathroom. We looked each other in the eye and immediately had the same thought -- that those boys were being ridiculous.

Each interaction with another person may seem unique at first, but upon further examination it's interesting to note that relationships have patterns. The natural progression of relationships (specifically friendships and romances) has been effectively categorized into steps by scholars such as Julia Wood. She explains that bonding over commonalities is a prevalent factor in strengthening relationships. When you're put into similar situations and/or must endure a situation together, you're more likely to form a connection with the other person. To reflect on this pattern, just think about how many close-knit friendships do you have that began from an initial spark of simple bonding through commonality?